Specialist Cyber Security Skills

Last updated: 04 February 2026

Status:

Initial Development

Commencement date:

July 2025

End date:

June 2027

Overview

This training product development activity will update the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Training Package with new/updated urgent training products for specialist cyber security.

Outputs from this work will include:

• New qualification(s) aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
• New and updated skillsets
• New and updated units of competency (UoC).

For any questions related to the project, contact [email protected]

View the potential training products in scope in the “Documents” tab.

Background Information

The 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy aims to grow and professionalise the national cyber workforce by addressing the shortage of cyber professionals and the mismatch between job requirements and employee skills. The strategy highlights the role of Jobs and Skills Councils working with industry to assess workforce needs for cyber security skills and delivering relevant training.

Preliminary findings indicate a critical skills gap in emerging specialist cyber security skills and the need for agile, flexible training products. There is also a lack of clearly defined pathways for career progression and outdated training content that is not in line with industry standards and technology.

Consultation & Feedback


Future Skills Organisation (FSO) has developed a Consultation Strategy as part of the Project Plan, which involves various consultation methods including webinars/workshops, questionnaires and email feedback.

The Training Package Organising Framework (TPOF) sets out the Product and Process requirements that must be complied with for all national training package products, which includes the establishment of a Technical Committee. The required composition of the Technical Committee is detailed in the TPOF and must be followed to ensure representation is consistent across all training product projects.

Expression of Interest for the Technical Committee have now closed.

Timeline

Project Commencement

July 2025

Establish Technical Committee

September 2025

Scoping

March-April 2026

Drafting of Training Products

April 2026

Draft 1 Training Products Technical Committee Endorsement

July 2026

Draft 1 Public and Government Consultation

July 2026

Incorporating Feedback

August 2026

Senior Officers Check

December 2025

Finalisation and Submission to the Assurance Body

March 2027

Assurance Body Consideration

April 2027

Skills Minister’s Endorsement

May 2027

Products available on Training.gov.au

June 2027

Stage

Commencement date

Initial Development

Commenced July 2025

Project Commencement: July 2025 

Technical Committee Standup: September – December 2025 

Scoping and Review: December – April 2026

Initial Development of Training Package Products: April 2026 – June 2026

Public and Government Consultation (Draft 1)

Commencing July 2026

The Future Skills Organisation (FSO), is undertaking a Training Package Product Update project in response to current workforce challenges.

We invite you to take advantage of this opportunity to contribute to the Draft 1 Public and Government Consultation via the form below and/or join any of our workshops by providing your insights to enhance the skills and knowledge requirements.

During the consultation period the link to our feedback questionnaire will be provided here.

Workshops:

We invite you to register for a workshop and join us for an interactive discussion on the Specialist Cyber Security Training Products. Your insights and expertise will be invaluable to our discussion.

Workshop dates and registrations will be made available in due course and will be accessed here.

We would appreciate your participation. Please be assured that all responses will be kept confidential and will be used exclusively for the purpose of the Training Package Product Update.

Email Feedback – FSO will accept email feedback on the Specialist Artificial Intelligence Training Products from stakeholders. 

To provide email feedback please email: [email protected]

Questionnaire – FSO will provide a questionnaire promoting feedback on the Specialist Cyber Security Training Products. Surveys give the opportunity for a diverse range of stakeholders to provide feedback on draft products; it also assists in maximising reach to rural and remote stakeholders.

The link to the survey will be made available in due course and will be accessed here.

Training Products for review

Draft 1 Training Products will be made available in this section in due course.

Incorporating Feedback

Commencing August 2026

During this stage, all feedback received during Draft 1 consultation process is reviewed by the Technical Committee and responses are provided.

Essential feedback identified by the Technical Committee is incorporated into the training package products and a further round of consultations is undertaken.

Public and Government Consultation (Draft 2)

Commencing October 2026

If significant changes have been made to the Draft 1 Training Package Products as a result of initial consultations, FSO will undertake further consultations with stakeholders to ensure the final product reflects broad stakeholder consensus.

We invite you to take advantage of this opportunity to contribute to Draft 2 Public and Government Consultation via the form below and/or join any of our workshops by providing your insights to enhance the skills and knowledge requirements.

During the consultation period the link to our feedback questionnaire will be provided here.

Workshops:

We invite you to register for a workshop and join us for an interactive discussion on the Specialist Cyber Security Training Products. As a valued expert in the field, your insights and expertise will be invaluable to our discussion.

Workshop dates and registrations will be made available in due course and will be accessed here.

We would appreciate your participation. Please be assured that all responses will be kept confidential and will be used exclusively for the purpose of the Training Package Product Update.

Email Feedback – FSO will accept email feedback on the Specialist Cyber Security Training Products from stakeholders. 

To provide email feedback please email: [email protected]

Questionnaire – FSO will provide a questionnaire promoting feedback on the Specialist Cyber Security Training Products. Surveys give the opportunity for a diverse range of stakeholders to provide feedback on draft products; it also assists in maximising reach to rural and remote stakeholders.

Senior Officials' Check

Commencing December 2026

State and Territory Senior Responsible officers review, provide feedback and endorse the training package products.

Finalisation and Submission to Assurance Body

Commencing April 2027

At the finalisation stage, final checks are conducted, and the outcomes of the project are submitted to the Assurance Body and Department for consideration.

Final Training Package Products

Final training products will be made available in this section in due course

Skills Ministers' Endorsement

Commencing April 2027

Training Package Products are uploaded to the national training system.

Technical Committee

Terms of Reference

Training Products

Potential Training Products in Scope

Training Products

Scoping RFP

We have added 2 weeks to the deliverables timeline for the ICT, AI and Cyber RFPs to account for holidays and to provide 2 extra weeks for stakeholder consultation. 

No respondent will be disadvantaged by these changes.  The updated milestones are listed in the RFP

RFP

Scoping RFP Information Session

Master Services Agreement

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